google link command question

Hi SuperToad,

I don't know if the proportion of links is consistent across all URLs, but it does seem to be about 1% or less on most websites I have checked.

I think your question is based on a false premise. Search engines do not rank web pages based solely on the backlink count. And while the quality of backlinks are certainly a factor they are only one set of factors that determine SERP rankings.

Search engines rank pages based on relevancy not backlink counts. Google combines relevancy scores from document titles, URLs, page text and backlink anchortext. Each of those factors use proprietary formulas for weighting those relevancy scores which are then combined for the total relevancy score on which rankings are based.

The point is that backlinks alone are not what determines ranking, and while backlinks play a role, it is the combined relevancy of those backlink signals that make up the backlink relevancy score, and that only makes up a portion of the overall relevancy, not the entirety of that score.

There is a much better way of comparing the backlink ranking strength of pages that may appear in SERP for a particular keyword. Just use the allinanchor: search operator in combination with your keyword to get a SERP that ranks each listing in order of backlink strength.

You cannot rely on backlink counts, nor the authority of those backlinks, because relevancy is the essential factor that determines the backlink will have any direct influence at all. Since mnany backlinks may not be relevant they cannot be relied upon to influence rankings.

Additionally many folks leave out the influence of internal backlinks which are also very important contributors to the relevancy score.

Don,
Wow. Thanks for the detailed answer. I'll play around with the allinanchor command.

I agree that links are only a factor. I'm just wondering if the link command always shows the same percentage, i.e. 1% or .1%, so that the number shown when compared to another site would give a person a valid comparison of the NUMBER of links the two sites have compared to each other.
If it was always the same percentage, it would work, but if it isn't, then it wouldn't work.
But I understand your point on relevance and other factors. I'd just like to know in terms of shear numbers if a competitor is too far ahead to be caught, or is within a reasonable distance...
So any opinions on if it is a FIXED PERCENTAGE which would then allow on to compare and create ratios?